The Electoral Commission have published their reports for the 2006 electoral pilots. The access evaluation for the pilots was undertaken through a partnership between Scope and The Pollen Shop.
E-voting pilots report published
Polls Apart is a campaign to make Britain’s democracy accessible to disabled voters. At each General Election since 1992 disability campaigners have filled in a short access survey when they vote. Their findings form part of Scope’s Polls Apart evaluation of disabled people’s access to the democratic process.
On Election Day 2005 campaign volunteers surveyed over 2,000 polling stations and found that 68% of polling stations could be inaccessible to a disabled person.
For the first time we have also produced regional Polls Apart reports to highlight the regional differences in accessibility and consider access in the context of specific regional circumstances.
You can download both the main and regional reports documents from our reports pages
"Until I filled in the survey I had always assumed the process of voting was easy. You turn up, vote and leave. But I now realise that many disabled people have to overcome a long and needless obstacle course just to get to the ballot box."
Polls Apart volunteer, Wales
If you visited a polling station with poor access write to your MP and local councillors. Let them know that about the problems disabled constituents face in trying to vote. To get accessible democracy on the political agenda we need to get as many politicians to be aware of the problems as possible. When you contact an MP or local councillor ask if they are aware of the Polls Apart campaign and what they are doing to support it.
Thanks again, your help is appreciated!
To find out what is going on in your area visit:
East Anglia & Central
England
London
Midlands
North West
South East
South West
Wales
Yorkshire & North East
